Arsenal are facing issues in the January transfer window, as additions are needed to boost their faltering title challenge, but they do not currently seem possible.
The club appear set to have a quiet window despite a lack of defensive depth and a struggle for goals upfront, with financial fair play issues currently preventing big-money incomings in this month.
It remains to be seen what business Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar will attempt to do, if any, as they are reportedly happy with the squad, but a lot of players have been linked including Ivan Toney and Douglas Luiz.
Arsenal Insider has spoken exclusively to HITC Football’s transfer expert Graeme Bailey to get the latest on possible transfer targets for this window, and updates on what could happen in the summer market, with a few players potentially nearing the exit door.
Arsenal’s midfield targets
Arsenal are set to bolster their midfield in the summer transfer window. Whilst additions would be welcomed in January following Kai Havertz’s slow start, the club have three targets in mind for the summer window.
Bailey has confirmed that Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz, Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi and Royal Antwerp’s Arthur Vermeeren are all players admired by the club to add to the midfield three alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee
Recent reports linked Arsenal with a move for Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, and the transfer expert has now highlighted that whilst the club admire the 22-year-old, he is not seen as someone to come in and raise the level of the attack immediately.
“I think he’s someone who’s on their radar. I don’t think for one minute he’s their top target,” Bailey stated of Arsenal and Zirkzee.
“They’ve watched him, they’ve done work on him.”
A positive update on Victor Osimhen
Arsenal have been linked with several strikers who could raise the level of their attack for next season, and Napoli star Victor Osimhen would be a very welcome addition.
He has also been linked with Chelsea, but the HITC journalist has given a reassuring update for Arsenal fans.
“I think Arsenal will be ones to watch in the Osimhen market. It’s not that they can’t afford him, of course they can, but whether they’d be willing to break the British transfer record again, remains to be seen.
“I think Chelsea are fearful of who’s going to come for Osimhen.”
Will Arsenal move for Pedro Neto or Michael Olise?
Arsenal could do with another winger in the summer, and have been linked with Pedro Neto and Michael Olise. However, we asked Bailey about both players, and whilst a deal for Olise looks promising, there is one big factor which could prevent a move for Neto.
“Olise is going to move in the summer. He’s got a release clause, I’m told it is in excess of £50m, and it could even be higher than £70m,” he explained.
“He’s a hugely talented boy. Arsenal are in the mix for him, I think he does have a preference for London from what I’m told, but that wouldn’t stop him moving North if Liverpool or Man United go in for him.
“I think If Neto hadn’t had all of these injuries he’s had this season, it would be a different matter, but it’s an interesting one because we know that Arsenal do like Neto.”
Could Arsenal sign a defender in this window?
Arsenal have been linked with teenage sensation Jorrel Hato from Ajax, and the insider has confirmed that Arteta’s interest in him is genuine, whilst they also eyed up Ferdi Kadioglu from Fenerbahce.
“Hato is a boy who Arsenal like. He’s a really interesting one. Young, full of potential. I think Arsenal are thinking, if they can get him in this month, they would do,” he stated of the Ajax star.
“The other player who they’ve done their homework on is someone who can play on both sides at fullback, is the Fenerbahce defender Ferdi Kadioglu.
“They did explore that deal but he’s probably a bit too much (money) for a squad player.”
How close Thomas Partey was to leaving Arsenal last summer?
A key issue this season has been Thomas Partey’s fitness, as the midfielder has hardly featured all campaign as a result of injuries.
There were rumours linking him with a move last summer and in this month, and Bailey has now explained that Arsenal made a huge U-turn over his potential exit in the last transfer window.
“As Arsenal entered the summer, Partey was told that he could go, he was looking around,” he revealed.
“He had a good season last season, but midway through the summer, Arteta and those at Arsenal decided ‘no, we can’t afford to let Partey go.’
“However, despite this initial U-turn, it now seems that Arsenal have changed their mind again and are willing to let him leave.
“I don’t think he’s massively pushing to get away, from what I’m hearing, so I don’t see him going in this month, but I think he will go in the summer.”
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